Neena Gupta is keen on exploring South cinema: ‘I would like to work with Mani Ratnam’

Buoyed by all the critical appreciation and awards her latest Netflix film Vadh has earned, noted actress Neena Gupta - whose 2018 film Badhaai Ho marked a turnaround in her career - feels that she is in the best phase of her work life, as “there is a never-ending desire to play exciting roles”. In fact, the actress has expressed her desire to work with Mani Ratnam, whose latest epic historical action adventure film Ponniyin Selvan 2 has been creating waves. 

In an interview with PTI, Neena said, “I have about eight projects and every role is different. It is not what I used to do earlier, like a supporting actor. I’m the main actor now. There is a responsibility to carry the weight of the film. This is amazing. I can’t believe it sometimes, whether it is a dream or reality?”

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Next, Neena the actress will be seen in Vishal Bhardwaj’s much-awaited web series Charlie Chopra & The Mystery Of Solang Valley, R Balki’s short in Lust Stories 2 and Anurag Basu’s Metro… In Dino. Meanwhile, there are also projects like Pachhattar Ka Chhora, Baa, Ishq-E-Nadaan and Sabun in the pipeline. 

When asked if there is a desire to try out any other genre, the 63-year-old actress said, “Many. I want to do action, love stories, horror and a whole lot of things as yet. I am feeling very lucky as I am working with a lot of people with whom I never thought I would work with. But I would like to do some south films, like work with Mani Ratnam and others, because it is totally different and I would love to do that.”

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Speaking about how the representation of women on screen has evolved in recent years, the Shiv Shastri Balboa actress said, “Earlier a woman was only (seen) as a mother, daughter, daughter-in-law or aunt as this was happening in real life. However, today women are working (and have an agency), which is reflected in the roles written for them. I am very lucky that I am getting varied, interesting, and substantial roles to play.”

Meanwhile, her 2022 family comedy-drama film Goodbye - also starring Amitabh Bachchan and Rashmika Madanna - is all set to make its television premiere.